Article grab



Sept. 10, 1963 w, Y 3,103,282

' ARTICLE GRAB Filed Feb. 28, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLARD A.YORK 2 I, NEYS ATT Sept. 10, 1963 w. A. YORK 3,103,282

' I ARTICLE GRAB v Filed Feb. 28, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLARD A. YORK BYW ATTO NEYS INVENTOR.

W. A. YORK ARTICLE GRAB Sept. 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28,1962 WILLARD A. YORK ATTORN YS United States Patent 3,103,282 ARTICLEGRAB Willard A. Yon-h, Pepper Pike, Ohio, assignor to The ClevelandCrane & Engineering Company, Wicklifie, Ohio, a corporation of OhioFiled Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,367 6 Claims. (Cl. 212-128) Thepresent invention relates to material handling apparatus of the typecomprising an overhead movable support having suspended therefrom a grabselectively engageable with a load, particularly a cylindrical article,such as a roll of paper, by an operator located at a dis tance from theload. p

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a newand improved material handling apparatus including a movable supportmember having suspended therefrom a grab controllable by an operatorlocated at a distance from the grab to selectively engage a load andwhich includes means for indicating at the operators position or stationthe relative vertical position of the grab with respect to the load, atleast, when the grab is at or approximately at the optimum or desiredposition for engaging the load.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts and further advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment described withreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this.

specification, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of amaterial handling apparatus embodying the present invention lifting aroll of paper;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view with portions in elevation approximately onthe line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational View of a portion of the material orload grab, as viewed from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View with portions in elevation approximately onthe line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

, 3,103,282 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 frame adjacent to its corners. Therails 21, 22 are welded to the underside of spaced cross members 25, 26of the bridge C. The members 25, 26 rest upon and are welded to the topof the girder-s i2, 13. The wheels 23, 24 at the near side of thetrolley, as viewed in FIG. 1, engage rail 21 on the bridge C, and thecorresponding wheels at the far side of the trolley engage rail 22. Thetrolley C is moved lengthwise along the bridge by an operator controlledreversible electric trolley travel motor 27 connected to one or more ofthe wheels 23, 24. The operations of both bridge travel motors 18, 1'9and the trolley travel motor 27 are under the control of the craneoperator in the control cab D fixedly suspended from the trolley C.

The trolley C is provided with a cable-type hoist mechanism, designatedgenerally as E, and comprising two cables'25b, 3:1 to which the grab,designated generally as F,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view with portions in elevation approximately onthe line 55 of FIG. 3.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternate constructions, the present preferred embodiment is shown inthe drawings and herein described in detail. It is to be usedstood,however, that there is no intention to thereby limit the invention tothe specific form disclosed, but it is my intention to cover allmodifications and alternative constructions falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in an overheadbridge-type traveling crane comprising a bridge A formed of weldedstructural members including two spaced girders 12, if), and having atits opposite ends pairs of wheels 14-, 15, respectively, which wheelsengage and travel along rails 16, 17 adjacent to the ends of the bridgeand which rails form the crane runway. The rails 16, 17 are supportedbythe building B within which the crane is located, or by some othersuitablestructure. The [crane is moved along the crane runway by drivingone or more of each of the wheels 14, 15 from a pair of operatorcontrolled reversible electric bridge travel motors 18, 19 in a suitablemanner.

The crane also comprises a carrier or trolley C in is connected. One endof each of the cables 30', 31 is connected to the frame 29 of thecarrier C. After passing downwardly and around sheaves 32, 33,respectively, connected to opposite ends of a built-up member 34, thecables 30, 31 extend in an upwardly direction to the trolley C wherethey are connected to a cable drum 3-5 driven by a reversible hoistmotor 36 and provided with a hoist brake of conventional construction.The motor 36, like the motors previously referred to, is controlled bythe crane operator'in the cab D. The hoist mechanism E will not bedescribed in detail. Sufilce it to say that the grab F can be raised orlowered by the operator energiz- I ing the motor-36 to rotate in onedirection or the other,

i that is, to either reel the ends of the cables 30, 31 connected to thecable drum onto or off of the drum as the case may be.

The grab F, illustrated, is rotatably connected to the member 34 by apivot assembly 38, and. is particularly suitable forhandling cylindricalarticles and more particularly rolls of papers and comprises a pair ofvertical clamp arms 40 41 pivotally connected to the opposite ends of ahorizontal frame member 42 suspended from the member 34 by the pivotassembly 3-8 and in turn from the trolley C by the cables 30, 31. Thepivot assembly 38 comprises power means also controlled from the cab Dfor rotating the grab F relative to the member 34. The clamp arms arepivoted to the member 42 at points intermediate their ends by pivot pins43, 43', respectively, for movement in a common plane and about parallelaxes. The clamp arms 40, 41 have load-engaging assemblies G, G,connected to their lower end, respectively, for engaging the load to behandled when the clamp arms are moved about their pivots in thedirection to move their lower end toward one another.;

Each of the clamp arms 4%41 and the load-engaging assembly carriedthereby are similar in construction and only the clamp arm 40 and itsload engaging assembly G will be described. The corresponding parts ofthe clamp arm 41 and the load-engaging assembly G thereon will bedesignated by the same reference characters with a prime mark afiixedthereto. t

The clamp arm 40 is of built-up construction and comprises a rectangularblock 50 supported in its lower end by hearing pins 51, 52. :Theconstruction permits the block 50 to rotate about the axis of pins 51,52, which axis is parallel to the axis of the pin 43 pivotally securingthe clamp arm 40 to the member 42. i i I The load engaging assembly Gincludes a member 54, connected to the block 50 for rotation about anaxis transverse to the axis of the pins 51, 5-2, and a pair of elongatedshoes 55, 56 supported in parallel relationship to one another andhaving load-engaging faces shaped to conform to the cylindricalconfiguration of a paper roll P to be handled by the apparatus. Theshoes 55, 56 are amazes spaced from each other circumferentially of thepaper roll P and are connected to the member 54 by pins 57, -8,respectively, for oscillation about axes offset from and extendingtransversely of the axis of rotation of the ,member 54 in the block 55).The construction permits the shoes 55, 56 to rotate limited amountsabout their connection with the member 45 to permit their loadengagingfaces to align themselves with the circumference of the roll of paperbeing handled. The shoes 55, 56 are biased in an outward direction withrespect to each other by a spring 60 connected therebetween.

The load-engaging assembly G is rotatable in the lower end of the armit) to permit the paper roll P, or other load being handled, to berolled over or turned slightly more than 90. This is accomplished by adouble acting reciprocating hydraulic motor 65-, the cylinder element ofwhich is pivotally connected to a member 66 mounted on the upper side ofthe block 50 while the piston element is connected to the member 54 at apoint off-set radially with respect to the axis of rotation of theassembly G in the lower end of the arm The load-engaging assembly G isbiased upwardly about the axis of the pins 51, 52 by a spring orconnected between the arm 40 and the member 66. Preferably, the limit ofthe movement of the load-engaging assembly G to which the spring 67urges it, is such that when the clamp arms 40, 4-1 are in theirwide-open position, the shoes 55, 56 will be substantially vertical.

The clamp arms 40, 41 are adapted to be oscillated about the pivot pins43, 43' as axis by a fluid actuated double acting reciprocating motor70, the cylinder and piston of which are operatively connected betweenthe upper end portion of the clamp arms. When fluid is supplied to theclamp side of the hydraulic motor 70, the upper ends of the clamp armsare moved apart to cause the lower ends of the clamp arms carrying theload-engaging assemblies G, G to move toward each other in a clampingmovement and to apply a clamping pressure to a load positionedtherebetween. Application of fluid pressure to the release side of thehydraulic motor 70 causes the upper ends of the clamp arms to movetoward each other to move the load-engaging assemblies on the lower endof the clamp arm away from each other. Fluid pressure for operating themotors 65, 65, 70 is supplied from an electric motor driven pump locatedin the frame 4-2 of the grab. The flow of fluid to and from the motorsis controlled by the operator in the crane D, by suitable solenoidoperated valves also located in the frame 42 of the grab.

The grab F may be rotated relative to the built-up member 34 by a doubleacting fluid actuated motor similar to the motor 65', previouslyreferred to, and interconnected between the member 34 and the frame 42of the grab F. This motor could also be controlled from the crane cab Dby the operator through solenoid valve means carried by the grab.

In operating material handling appmatus of the character to which thepresent invention relates, it is believed that it will be apparent thatin most instances it is preferable, and in some cases imperative, tohave the grab centered with respect to the load or particularly withrespect to the vertical dimension of the load, especially where it isdesired to pick up a heavy cylindrical object, such as a roll ofnewsprint, lying with its axis horizontal. Referring especially to thehandling of newsprint, it will be difficult to rotate the roll about ahorizontal axis for the purpose of standing the roll on end or lay it onits side unless the roll is centered in the grab, and when the roll islying on its side the grab may not properly engage it unless it isdropped over the roll the right amount with the result that the rollmight be dropped. The grab in picking up a horizontal roll should engageit symmetrically with respect to its horizontal central plane.

In order to facilitate the operator in properly engaging the load by thegrab, which in the present instance is operated or controlled from anoperators station remote from the grab proper, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of means preferably at the operators station,responsive to a mechanism in the grab sensing one or more relativepositions between the grab and the load or article to be handled, forindicating the relative position between the grab and the load orarticle to be handled, particularly while the grab is in the approximateposition for engaging the load. Referring to the preferred embodiment ofthe invention shown, this mechanism includes a weighted member connectedto the lower end of a flexible cable 76 and adapted to engage the top ofan article to be handled by the grab F From the weighted member 75, thecable 76 extends upwardly about an idler sheave rotatably supported inthe frame 42 of the grab and then makes a number of turns about a cabledrum 78 to which the end of the cable is secured. The drum 78 is biasedby a helical spring of suitable construction in a direction to wind thecable 76 onto the drum. {The force of the spring, however, is notsufiicient to overcome the weight of the member 75 connected to the freeend of the cable 76. The drum 78 is fixed to a shaft rotatably supportedin the frame 42 of the grab and having a sprocket pinion fixed thereto.The sprocket wheel is in turn connected by a sprocket chain to a drivensprocket on the rotor shaft of a Selsyn generator 84.

The Selsyn generator 84 is connected to a Selsyn motor 85 in the cab Dof the crane, the rotor of which carries an indicator or pointer adaptedto oscillate over a dial member 91 provided with an arcuate scalesuitably calibrated for the intended purpose. The Selsyn system is ofcommercial construction and is not herein shown and described. Sufiiceit to say that the electric circuits between the generator 84 and themotor 85 are carried between the cab D and the grab F, as are all of theother electric control circuits required for the operation of the grab,through a multiple conductor flexible cable 1G0 of commercialconstruction connected to the grab F and a spring biased reel 101 alsoof commercial construction in the trolley C. i

The construction of the parts of the apparatus just described is suchthat as the grab is lowered over a load the weight '75 engages the uppersurface thereof thus relieving the lower end of the cable 7 s of theweight thereof. This allows the drum 73 to rotate in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in the drawings, an amount proportional to thedistance that the member 75 is raised by its engagement with the load asthe grab is lowered. Rotation of the drum 78 in the direction mentionedrotates the Selsyn generator 84, which in turn causes a proportionalrotation of the Selsyu motor 85 land the pointer 90. As will beapparent, the relative size of the drum 78 and the sprockets connectingit to the generator 84 must be such that the Selsyn generator 84 makesnot more than one full revolution for the maximum vertical travel of themember 75. Assuming that in its normal position the bottom of the member75 coincides with the axes of rotation of the load engaging assembliesG, G, in the lower ends of the arms 49, 41 and that the operator knowsthe height or the diameter of the load to be handled, he can readilydetermine by watching the indicator as when the grab has been lowered sothat the axis of rotation of the load engaging assemblies coincides withthe horizontal center Plf8I16 of the load.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated andothers have been accomplished and that there has been provided a noveland improved material handling apparatus including a movable supportmember having suspended therefrom a grab controllable by an operatorlocated at a distance remote from the grab and including means forindicating at the operators position or state, the relative verticalposition of the grab with respect to the load, at least, while the grabis in the proximity of the load and more particularly while the grab isat or approximately at the optimum or desired position for engaging theload.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail, the invention is not limited to the particularapparatus shown and it is the intention to hereby cover all adaptations,modifications and uses thereof which come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a material handling apparatus a movable overhead support, a loadgrab including a member for engaging a load to be handled, elevatablemeans connecting said load grab to said overhead support, a controlstation remote irom said grab for controlling actuation of saidelevatable means, means in said grab independent of said member forsensing a relative position of said grab to a load to be handledthereby, and indicator means at said control station operativelyconnected to said sensing means for indicating said relative position ofsaid grab to the load.

2. In a material handling apparatus a movable overhead support, a loadgrab comprising a pair of clamp members movable by power towards andfrom one another, opposed load engaging assemblies rotatably supportedin said clamp members for rotation about a generally horizontal axis,elevatable means connecting said load grab to said overhead support, acontrol station remote from said grab for controlling actuation of saidelevatable means, power means controlled from said control station foroscillating said load engaging assemblies about said axis, means in saidgrab for sensing the relative position therebetween and a load to behandled, and indicator means at said control station operativelyconnected to said sensing means for indicating the relative positionbetween said grab and the load.

3. In a material handling apparatus a movable overhead support, a loadgrab including a member for engaging and lifting a load to be handled;elevlatable means connecting said load grab to said overhead support, acontrol station remote from said grab for controlling actuation of saidelevatable means, first means on said grab for sensing a relativeposition of said grab to a load to be handled thereby when said grab isin the proximity of the load but not engaged by said member, and secondmeans operatively connected to said first named means for in dioatingsaid relative position of said grab to the load.

4. In a material handling apparatus, a movable :overhead support, a loadgrab including a member for engag- 5 ing a load to be handled,elevatable means connecting said load grab to said overhead support, acontrol station remote from said grab for controlling actuation of saidelevatable means, first means on said grab "for sensing relativepositions of said grab to a load to be handled thereby when said grab isin the proximity of the load, and second means operatively connected tosaid first means iior indicating diilerent positions of said grabrelative to the load to be handled as the grab is moved into position toengage the load.

5. In a material handling apparatus a movable overhead support, a loadgrab including a first member for engaging a load to be handled,elevatable means connecting said load grab to said overhead support, acontrol station remote from said grab for controlling actuation of saidelevatable means, first means on said grab for sensing the relativeposition of said grab to a load to be handled thereby when said grab isin the proximity of the load, said last named means including a secondmember movably connected to said grab and adapted to engage the load tobe handled when said grab is in the proximity of the load, and secondmeans at said control station operatively connected to said first meansfor indicating varying positions of said grab relative to the loadincident to said second member being in engagement with the load to behandled.

6. In a material handling apparatus a movable overhead support, a loadgrab including a frame member and a pair of clamp members movablyconnected to said frame member, power actuated means for moving saidclamp members toward one another to engage a load to be handled, opposedload engaging assemblies rotatably supported by said clamp members forrotation about a generally horizontal axis, power actuated means foroscillating said load engaging assemblies about said axis, poweractuated means connecting said load grab to said overhead support, acontrol station remote from said grab for controlling actuation of saidvarious power actuated means, first means on said grab for sensing therelative position of said grab to a load to be handled thereby when saidgrab is in the proximity of the load, said last named means including asecond member movably connected to said grab and adapted to engage theload to be handled as the grab is being moved into position to beengaged with the load, and second means at said control stationoperatively connecting said sensing means for indicating the position ofsaid grab relative to the load.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,600,538 Jackes et al. June 17, 1952 2,915,332. Cotesworth et a1. Dec.1, 1959 3,040,911 Turner June 26, 1962

1. IN A MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS A MOVABLE OVERHEAD SUPPORT, A LOADGRAB INCLUDING A MEMBER FOR ENGAGING A LOAD TO BE HANDLED, ELEVATABLEMEANS CONNECTING SAID LOAD GRAB TO SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT, A CONTROLSTATION REMOTE FROM SAID GRAB FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATION OF SAIDELEVATABLE MEANS, MEANS IN SAID GRAB INDEPENDENT OF SAID MEMBER FORSENSING A RELATIVE POSITION OF SAID GRAB TO A LOAD TO BE HANDLEDTHEREBY, AND INDICATOR MEANS AT SAID CONTROL STATION OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID SENSING MEANS FOR INDICATING SAID RELATIVE POSITION OFSAID GRAB TO THE LOAD.